Washington Mystics @ Phoenix Mercury
Pre-Game Analysis
The Phoenix Mercury host the Washington Mystics on August 28, 2026, in a matchup between two teams on opposite trajectories this season. Phoenix enters at 13-25, sitting seventh in the Western standings, while Washington comes in at a much stronger 23-15, good for fourth place in the East.
The scoring punch on both sides will be worth watching closely. Mercury guard Kelsey Plum leads Phoenix with 21.5 points per game and remains the focal point of the offense, while Washington's Shakira Austin paces the Mystics at 16.9 points per game and will look to keep pace inside against Phoenix's defense. With Washington holding the better record and standing, and Phoenix looking for any edge at home, the individual scoring battle between Plum and Austin figures to be a key storyline as both teams push through the stretch run of their respective seasons.
The full result, box score and recap will appear here after the game is verified final.
Final result: WSH 80 — PHX 73 (WSH win).
Written before tip-off, AI-generated from verified team data and kept for the record. How we use AI
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Phoenix Mercury
Season Matchup
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Game Nuggets
- Kahleah Copper led all players with 35 PTS (4 REB, 1 AST) for Phoenix Mercury. Kahleah Copper →
- Washington Mystics came in 4-1 over their previous 5 games. Washington Mystics →
- Meeting 3 of the season between these teams — Washington Mystics was 2-0 in the series before tip-off. Washington Mystics →
Box Score
Washington Mystics
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michaela Onyenwere | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Kiki Iriafen | 20 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Shakira Austin | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 |
| Sonia Citron | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 33 |
| Georgia Amoore | 25 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
| Lauren Betts | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Betnijah Laney-Hamilton | 6 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| Cotie McMahon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Alicia Florez | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Phoenix Mercury
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alyssa Thomas | 4 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
| Natasha Mack | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 28 |
| Noemie Brochant | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 |
| Sami Whitcomb | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Kahleah Copper | 35 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 32 |
| Valeriane Ayayi | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Maddy Westbeld | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| Lexi Held | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Shay Ciezki | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Team Stats
| Team | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Mystics | 29-61 | 7-17 | 15-19 | 35 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 16 |
| Phoenix Mercury | 27-66 | 5-17 | 14-18 | 29 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
Game Recap
The Washington Mystics defeated the Phoenix Mercury 80-73 on August 28, 2026.
Georgia Amoore led Washington's offense with 25 points, adding four assists and two rebounds. Kiki Iriafen contributed a double-double effort with 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Mystics, also chipping in an assist. For Phoenix, Kahleah Copper turned in a standout individual performance, scoring a game-high 35 points while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out an assist. Natasha Mack rounded out Phoenix's top performers with 10 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
Despite Copper's prolific scoring output, it was not enough to overcome the balanced production from Washington's frontcourt and backcourt combination of Amoore and Iriafen, who combined for 45 points and 14 rebounds between them. The Mystics' ability to control the boards and share the ball effectively proved decisive in securing the road victory over the Mercury.
This matchup was part of the regular season schedule for both teams. The final buzzer confirmed Washington's 80-73 win, with the box score reflecting a game defined by standout individual performances on both sides, even as the Mystics' overall team balance ultimately outweighed Copper's scoring surge for Phoenix.
AI-generated from verified data and editorially approved. How we use AI